28/05/2026
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At 20:34 on Wednesday, 27th May 2026, the RNLI Moelfre all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was called out by Holyhead Coastguard after several reports of a paddleboarder and her dog trapped at the base of cliffs in Cemaes Bay. They were suffering from the cold and exposure amid a severe electrical storm and torrential rain.
The ALB was called out shortly after 20:30 in truly biblical weather, with torrential rain and a massive thunderstorm right overhead. The boat was prepared and launched, with all crew strapped inside for protection against the elements. Once underway, they made best speed for Cemaes Bay, where our colleagues from Cemaes Bay Coastguard Search and Rescue were positioned on the cliff top, keeping watch over the casualty and her dog.
Upon arrival, the volunteer crew prepared the lifeboatโs daughter craft and launched it in tough, hazardous conditions. The ALB is equipped with a small Y boatโan inflatable daughter craft powered by a 15hp outboard engine. This nimble vessel is perfect for rescues near rocky areas and in shallow waters.
It was carefully manoeuvred through rough terrain to reach the woman and her dog, who were cold, scared, and shaken by the experience. The paddleboard was partly deflated, and the dog became anxious in the harsh weather.
They were swiftly rescued, provided with thermal protection, and brought ashore to the waiting coastguard team.
The Y-boat was brought back aboard the ALB, and the crew endured a 45-minute journey right through the heart of an electrical thunderstorm on their way back to Moelfre.
With several lightning strikes hitting just a few hundred meters from the lifeboat, the crew decided to stay in the wheelhouse and remove their audio headsets as a precaution. The storm overhead was also creating heavy interference and making communication difficult.
The shore crew waited for the ALBโs return and a break in the storm to get ready and recover the lifeboat in tough conditions.
Lifeboat coxswain Vince Jones said:
In 25 years of lifeboating, Iโve faced all kinds of weather, but last night was a first. What should have been a straightforward rescue became extremely challenging and dangerous due to a massive electrical thunderstorm over Anglesey and north Wales. The casualty and her dog were struggling, exposed to the storm that rolled in within minutes. Her paddleboard had partially deflated, leaving her trapped at the base of the cliffs. Torrential rain and wind squalls topping 25 knots battered the scene, with a severe weather warning issued just an hour before she got into trouble.
The crew worked with great care in incredibly tough and dangerous conditions, and the shore crew back at the station, exposed and operating on our slipway, did the same. My heartfelt thanks go to each of them.
Image Credit/ RNLI Moelfre
